A party leader with a lack of class

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/04/2024 (549 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“Charlie Angus jumps ship rather than face voters after he voted to hike the carbon tax and ban the hunting rifles of Northern Ontarians.” — Pierre Poilievre on X, April 4, 2024

History will show that while some Canadian political leaders take words such as class, dignity and honour seriously, others treat those virtues with derision and contempt.

Pierre Poilievre was commenting this week on social media on the same day a veteran NDP MP from northern Ontario made the announcement that after 20 years of serving his constituents, he was hanging it up.

Charlie Angus is a musician, author and NDP parliamentarian. He won’t run in the next federal election, which will most likely be held in October 2025.

Within hours of the Angus announcement, Poilievre tattooed the departing MP with the same lame talking points that any generic political operative can offer — no refined thinking required.

Generally, when an elected official announces they are leaving public service, political allies and opponents say something respectful or they hold their tongues. It’s what mature Canadian grown-ups do.

The most popular provincial leader in Canada right now is the premier of our province, Wab Kinew. Here’s what he offered on social media in reaction to Charlie Angus’ decision to exit politics: “Thank you @CharlieAngusNDP for your unwavering dedication to serving Canadians. Your tireless efforts in advancing progressive values have left a lasting impact on our nation. Wishing you joy, well-deserved rest, and exciting new adventures in the next chapter of your journey!”

If I were a high school teacher anywhere in Canada, and I wanted to give my class examples of intelligent, dignified, and meaningful public rhetoric, Kinew would be the well I would draw from. He doesn’t grovel to the lowest common denominator. On political ice he has the gifted hands of a scorer, not a goon. Most important to Manitobans, we are not led by a premier who, while brushing his teeth in the morning, is obsessed by the need to bite someone.

Please don’t mistake me for one of those interested in imbibing the rancid idea that Poilievre takes every opportunity to show his fangs because that’s the only look that Conservatives will accept. That thinking belongs to what a B.C. premier calls the baloney factory.

I am politically independent in my voting, not a reliable conservative vote the way I once was. But at the core I still identify as a progressive conservative, a Duff Roblin, Peter Lougheed, Bill Davis conservative. Those are my elders who made me identify with their worldview.

The social safety net that makes us Canadian requires as much fiscal responsibility as our discipline can muster. That’s what my conservatism looks like and it needs to be delivered with elegance, eloquence and class. So this conservative is not encouraged or inspired by the daily Poilievre fang job.

Like many traditional progressive conservatives, I was moved to tears by the recent state funeral in one of the world’s most beautiful basilicas, in Montreal.

The nearly four-hour production at Notre Dame was clearly scripted, directed and choreographed by the right honourable gentleman in the flag-draped casket himself.

Every song, hymn, Bible reading, and eulogizer had Brian Mulroney’s blessing. Wayne Gretzky was there because the “Wayne Gretzky of Canadian Progressive Conservative politics” wanted him to be.

Justin Trudeau wasn’t there because he is today’s prime minister — he was there because the late Progressive Conservative prime minister knew that Justin Trudeau would meet the moment in the very same cathedral where the current prime minister had eulogized Justin’s own father.

If Mulroney had wanted the current Conservative party leader to deliver a eulogy, he would have made that choice.

But anyone who knew Mulroney also knows Poilievre was superbly unqualified to take the stage at the Notre-Dame Basilica.

It’s not that Poilievre lacks intellect, or the capacity to speak publicly, but he is best known for crass, not class.

It doesn’t matter whether his populist conservatism is just a gimmick. It’s an essential element of Poilievre the political performer.

That show may be getting a good ride in the polls, but the gentleman in the casket knew better than anyone that polls go up and down like toilet seats. This was a Canadian state funeral in a basilica, not in a barn.

Detractors can say whatever they like about the late Right Honourable Martin Brian Mulroney. His conservative brand was Gucci — not gutter.

Charles Adler is a longtime political commenter and podcaster. charles@charlesadler.com